Peace
Here is a peek inside a conversation in my car at school pick up on Thursday afternoon:
ME: Hey, Sawyer, how was your day?
Sawyer: It was great.
ME: You ok?
Sawyer: I am fine, just fine. Maybe. I guess. I don’t know.
Sawyer: I am fine, just fine. Maybe. I guess. I don’t know.
The truth is that two hours earlier, Sawyer found out that her choir teacher was offered a full ride scholarship to work on a PhD in conducting at Texas Tech.
Sounds great, right? While that is great for the choir teacher, many of the middle schoolers, high schoolers, and parents had a different perspective.
While the girls were hearing the news from their teachers, parents were reading an email from the principal about this news. I began getting calls from other parents, many were devastated, some were on their way to school to pick up their child early.
Sawyer wasn’t sure how she felt. She was sad and anxious for herself, and she was happy and excited for her teacher. I began to pray quietly. And as I drove, she began to talk through all the emotions, even though it felt like they were conflicting. Once we arrived home, a sense of peace covered the car.
Sawyer’s feelings didn’t change. The situation didn’t change. She was just able to add an overarching sense of peace that now covered her heart and mind. It was the peace that Paul referenced in his letter to the Philippians. "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7.
Often in considering our feelings, we think in simple terms that we only experience one feeling at a time – I am sad. I am happy. I am excited. I am scared.
Yet God has made us much more complex. We are a barrel of emotions that God created, loves, and knows. These are the very emotions that can drive us closer to Christ and can point us to His continual presence.
When you are navigating circumstances that send strong emotions your way or the way of someone close to you, start by identifying and then telling Him about all those feelings. This recognition of our feelings opens the way for us to see Christ. His promise to be Immanuel (God with us) truly means that He is WITH US at all times.
Next, consider these verses:
"These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11
"A happy heart makes the face cheerful." Proverbs 15:13
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:4-5
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56: 3
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
My final encouragement is to spend some time in worship. Worship reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from above. (James 1:7) Perhaps that looks like prayer, singing hymns, or listening to praise music. This time of worship reminds our hearts of WHO God is, WHAT God promises, and WHEN He provides.
God knows our spiritual and mental safety comes when we are continually connected to Him.
"We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone." Psalm 33:20-22
Sounds great, right? While that is great for the choir teacher, many of the middle schoolers, high schoolers, and parents had a different perspective.
While the girls were hearing the news from their teachers, parents were reading an email from the principal about this news. I began getting calls from other parents, many were devastated, some were on their way to school to pick up their child early.
Sawyer wasn’t sure how she felt. She was sad and anxious for herself, and she was happy and excited for her teacher. I began to pray quietly. And as I drove, she began to talk through all the emotions, even though it felt like they were conflicting. Once we arrived home, a sense of peace covered the car.
Sawyer’s feelings didn’t change. The situation didn’t change. She was just able to add an overarching sense of peace that now covered her heart and mind. It was the peace that Paul referenced in his letter to the Philippians. "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7.
Often in considering our feelings, we think in simple terms that we only experience one feeling at a time – I am sad. I am happy. I am excited. I am scared.
Yet God has made us much more complex. We are a barrel of emotions that God created, loves, and knows. These are the very emotions that can drive us closer to Christ and can point us to His continual presence.
When you are navigating circumstances that send strong emotions your way or the way of someone close to you, start by identifying and then telling Him about all those feelings. This recognition of our feelings opens the way for us to see Christ. His promise to be Immanuel (God with us) truly means that He is WITH US at all times.
Next, consider these verses:
"These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11
"A happy heart makes the face cheerful." Proverbs 15:13
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:4-5
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56: 3
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
My final encouragement is to spend some time in worship. Worship reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from above. (James 1:7) Perhaps that looks like prayer, singing hymns, or listening to praise music. This time of worship reminds our hearts of WHO God is, WHAT God promises, and WHEN He provides.
God knows our spiritual and mental safety comes when we are continually connected to Him.
"We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone." Psalm 33:20-22